From what I've seen from Emery so far I like his smaller moves (late draft picks, signing vets on 1-year deals) more than I do the bigger ones (1st round picks, Jermon Bushrod). That said, in total I think he's done an adequate job of addressing some of our bigger needs.

1) Offensive line was still totally incapable of protecting Cutler last year. So far they've brought in 5 new offensive lineman to add to a group of Garza, Webb, Carimi, James Brown, and Ed Williams. At most you'd think they would keep 9 offensive lineman, maybe 8, so it's nice to add to the competition.

2) Addressed the elephant in the room by gently nudging Urlacher out the door. That's never easy to do, and I think he did a nice job of not letting his end play out in the media. It's a business. That gives me hope that he'll be able to handle the Cutler situation next year with the same amount of skill.

3) In addition with the linebacker position I think he made the right move in letting Roach walk for that money, bringing in two stop-gap starters, and drafting their replacements for 2014. This is assuming, of course, that Bostic and Greene pan out, but still. This also gives us more depth at linebacker for 2013 than we had for 2012.

4) I think everyone loves the Martellus Bennett signing.

5) Marc Trestman is an odd signing, and I can't really get over the fact that a guy who basically got turned down for my sad Gophers football job is now the coach of the Chicago Bears, but I do think Emery made the correct decision to go from a defensive obsessed guy to a quarterback guru. It's obviously the way of the NFL now.

So, we'll see, I don't like either of his 1st round picks, and I'm not convinced Trestman has the chops to be an NFL head coach, but I can at least see and appreciate most of what Emery is trying to do. If nothing else the offense should be more fun to watch this year at least.

I honestly don't know yet. For 8-10 million a year, sure. For something closer to 15-20 mil? I would say no right now, but I'm fine with letting him earn it this year.

There's no way he gets 8-10 mill a year. I think this is a serious problem that franchises are making, they're overpaying for quarterbacks. It's like any FA qb who's decent deserves to be the highest paid player in the league just bc. It's a horrible business plan.

I think Cutler does need to have a big year this year to earn the 20 million he's gonna get in FA. But he's gonna get 20 mill one way or another. Someone is gonna pay him that much.

There's no way he gets 8-10 mill a year. I think this is a serious problem that franchises are making, they're overpaying for quarterbacks. It's like any FA qb who's decent deserves to be the highest paid player in the league just bc. It's a horrible business plan.

I think Cutler does need to have a big year this year to earn the 20 million he's gonna get in FA. But he's gonna get 20 mill one way or another. Someone is gonna pay him that much.

That's fine. If he does great this year he's worth it. If not, let the Cardinals or Buccaneers overpay for him and we can start the rebuild.

That's fine. If he does great this year he's worth it. If not, let the Cardinals or Buccaneers overpay for him and we can start the rebuild.

I think Cutler has the Jets written all over him if he becomes a FA. I think he does well enough to get extended though. The Bears are probably a season away from going into rebuilding mode though so maybe they're better off letting him walk anyway or trading him.

So, this article on Emery was put on Grantland today. Not sure how I feel about Emery still, but a lot of the things pointed out certainly make me want to believe he has the organization headed in the right direction, so I guess we'll see how CFL-South goes this season.

The only redeeming thing that I like about Emery/Trestman is that they are clearly nerds in a sport that is still largely run by ex-players (I realize Trestman did play in the NFL, but you'd never know it by looking at or talking to the guy)

If the nerd revolution is to occur in football as it has in baseball, I want to be at the vanguard.

The only redeeming thing that I like about Emery/Trestman is that they are clearly nerds in a sport that is still largely run by ex-players (I realize Trestman did play in the NFL, but you'd never know it by looking at or talking to the guy)

If the nerd revolution is to occur in football as it has in baseball, I want to be at the vanguard.

I use this explanation to my friends every now and then when they wonder why there are so many idiots in football.

I simply tell them, remember that idiot jock you used to know in high school? He's a football coach somewhere now.

I think we're probably still a decade away from a true nerd revolution in football, but that guy in SF (I think his name is Marathe) has quietly been blazing the trail for a while now. The big payoff will go to the teams who get in early.

The offensive line has shown a lot of improvement over the last few weeks. I have some reservations about having two rookies on the same side of the line, but they have shown that they are the best guys for the job. The defense is still going to be a strength going into this year. The D-line has a lot to work with.

Any thoughts on Martellus Bennett? He seemed to be completely irrelevant all preseason.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SolidGold

Bortlezzzzzzz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomach

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.

I found something that said the Bears have about $89 committed to 46 players in 2014. That is the second lowest amount. We'll need it. Cutler and Melton need to be resigned. We have no corners. Marshall and Peppers could be restructured if even more money is needed. But it looks good.

Also, I'm ready to eat crow on the Bennett signing. I hated it when it happened and after the preseason I hated it even more because he was invisible. But he has been a great red zone guy for Cutler.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SolidGold

Bortlezzzzzzz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomach

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.

I found something that said the Bears have about $89 committed to 46 players in 2014. That is the second lowest amount. We'll need it. Cutler and Melton need to be resigned. We have no corners. Marshall and Peppers could be restructured if even more money is needed. But it looks good.

Also, I'm ready to eat crow on the Bennett signing. I hated it when it happened and after the preseason I hated it even more because he was invisible. But he has been a great red zone guy for Cutler.

We need to cut Peppers. Great guy but he needs to take a $15mil pay cut for next season just to make the team. No way we can pay him the $18mil or whatever he is going to make.

13.9 million next year and 16.5 in 2015. I don't know if we'll have to cut him. But if it is between resigning Melton or Cutler and dropping Peppers, I'm dropping Peppers.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by SolidGold

Bortlezzzzzzz

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomach

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.

Cap space shouldn't be an issue, but we would save 12 million off the cap by cutting Peppers.

The real question is if he's worth the 13.9 mil he's due in base salary next season at the age of 34. My guess is probably no, but I doubt he was ever going to see the last two years of his contract anyway.

Excellent! I was thinking about Jeremy Maclin. Since I doubt we will have the luxury of drafting a WR, and we have need of a speed receiver, I wonder what deal it would take to sign him.

As for right now.

I'm still trying to understand this team. Our offense is still wildly inconsistent. Our defense hasn't shown much and Tillman's age is definately worrying. I'm hoping today verse the Steelers we show more consistency on offense and show some more pressure on D.

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Bears fan

Whitney Mercilus will be a better and more productive player than Shea McClellin

Brilliant letting one of Scott Pioli's henchmen have his own team to ruin. One of the premier GM jobs in the NFL and it gets handed to a stupid **** who makes three facepalm moves for every good one. Awesome. Just like handing a new Mercedes to a 16 year old girl who's already been in three wrecks.